Importance, implementation, and impact of the adolescent medicine components of the report of the task force on pediatric education

The recently published Report of the Task Force on Pediatric Education has had a substantial impact on the growth of the field of adolescent medicine in three areas. First, the report continually emphasized the special needs for improved health services for teenagers and the training of their physicians. Secondly, it intentionally did not suggest a specific method by which to render care or offer training in adolescent medicine. Thus, a wide array of individualized services and training options became immediately available. Finally, the report has had a significant influence on a variety of organizations, in both the private and public sectors. New monies, legislation, and approaches to the delivery of adolescent health care and for those in training to provide that care therefore emerged as a direct consequence of the report.